Key Rail Nilayam wing gutted in fire, probe on

TNN | Updated: Apr 20, 2019, 9:16 IST

Up in flames: The fire occurred at around 4.50 am and was first noticed by on-duty staff, who alerted the fire...Read More

HYDERABAD: An early morning fire on Friday tore through a portion of Rail Nilayam’s signal and telecommunications block on the seventh floor in Secunderabad. An electrical short-circuit is suspected to be the cause of the fire. Furniture, office files and computers were burnt even as officials are estimating the loss. The fire occurred at around 4.50 am and was first noticed by on-duty staff, who alerted the fire brigade. The fire control room said it received a call at 5.20 am. “The fire broke out on the seventh floor of the G+7 storey building. We are suspecting that a spark led to the fire due to a short-circuit in the wee hours,” said station fire officer Mohan Rao. Two fire tenders were rushed to douse the fire. Gajanan Mallya, general manager, SCR, inspected the premises affected by the fire and instructed officials to ensure all records and material were carefully secured. “We have been asked to carry out an immediate fire audit in all railway office buildings,” a senior official said.

Measures were also announced to further strengthen fire safety measures to eliminate probability of an accident in future and conduct a high-level inquiry to assess the damage caused and arrive at the actual cause for the fire. With a series of fire accidents ravaging government offices in the city of late, questions are being asked if these offices have adequate fire safety measures. Last year, there were four fire accidents in government offices, including two at RTA office in Khairatabad and one at GHMC zonal office in Khairatabad.